Whispers

The boys made their way back through the tunnel, their footsteps light against the stone. The scent of food still clung to the air around them, but their thoughts were far from their meal. The Kibbers' words lingered, turning in their minds like a puzzle missing its final piece.

"A floating bloke," Adrian murmured again, as if saying it aloud would make more sense of it.

Sevan frowned. "You think he was a professor?"

"If he was, why sneak around like that?" Aiden countered. "Besides, levitating objects isn't exactly rare magic. It could be anyone."

"But why stop coming?" Sevan pointed out. "If he was just some regular staff member, why did the Kibbers seem so sad about it?"

The three lapsed into silence as they reached the entrance to the trophy room. Adrian pressed his hand against the wall, finding the right spot to trigger the passage back. With a soft rumble, the hidden doorway slid open, revealing the dimly lit space beyond.